small bird series: immature rufous whistler
Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
....from a walk through Oxley Creek Common. Oxley Creek Common is home to a remarkable variety of birds. An experienced observer can find as many as 70 species in one hour of observation during the spring about 10% of all Australia's bird species and several times the diversity one could find walking the suburbs. In the past eleven years over 190 species have been recorded on the Common. (Source: University of Queensland)
Rufous Whistler
Scientific Name: Pachycephala rufiventris
Description: The Rufous Whistler is a stocky bird with a large head, short stubby bill and a narrow, relatively long tail with a square or slightly forked tip. The sexes differ, with the male dark-grey above with a white throat, black breast and a reddish underbody. Many males also have a black face mask (except in northern subspecies). Females are dull grey to brown, with streaked underparts. Young birds are much redder than adults and have heavily streaked underparts.
Similar species: The male Rufous Whistler is quite distinctive with its reddish underparts, grey head and white throat, combined with black mask (over most of range). The female and immature birds can be distinguished from most other whistlers by heavy streaking on the underparts.
Distribution: Found throughout mainland Australia, the Rufous Whistler is also found in New Caledonia.
Habitat: The Rufous Whistler is found in forests, woodlands and shrublands, with a shrubby understorey. Is also found in gardens and farmland with some trees, and in remnant bushland patches.
Seasonal movements: Sedentary, with some seasonal migratory movements in eastern Australia; south during spring and north in autumn.
Feeding: The Rufous Whistler mainly eats insects, and sometimes seeds, fruit or leaves. It usually forages at higher levels than other whistlers, and rarely is seen on the ground.
Breeding: The Rufous Whistler breeds in monogamous pairs, and both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young. The female builds a fragile, cup-shaped nest from twigs, grass, vines and other materials, bound and attached to a tree fork with spider web. Two broods may be produced in a season.
Calls: A long loud series of ringing notes.
Minimum Size: 16cm
Maximum Size: 18cm
Average size: 17cm
Average weight: 25g
Breeding season: July to February
Clutch Size: Usually 2, sometimes 3
Incubation: 13 days
Nestling Period: 11 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2016
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.
small bird series: immature rufous whistler
Many thanks for your visits, faves and comments. Cheers.
....from a walk through Oxley Creek Common. Oxley Creek Common is home to a remarkable variety of birds. An experienced observer can find as many as 70 species in one hour of observation during the spring about 10% of all Australia's bird species and several times the diversity one could find walking the suburbs. In the past eleven years over 190 species have been recorded on the Common. (Source: University of Queensland)
Rufous Whistler
Scientific Name: Pachycephala rufiventris
Description: The Rufous Whistler is a stocky bird with a large head, short stubby bill and a narrow, relatively long tail with a square or slightly forked tip. The sexes differ, with the male dark-grey above with a white throat, black breast and a reddish underbody. Many males also have a black face mask (except in northern subspecies). Females are dull grey to brown, with streaked underparts. Young birds are much redder than adults and have heavily streaked underparts.
Similar species: The male Rufous Whistler is quite distinctive with its reddish underparts, grey head and white throat, combined with black mask (over most of range). The female and immature birds can be distinguished from most other whistlers by heavy streaking on the underparts.
Distribution: Found throughout mainland Australia, the Rufous Whistler is also found in New Caledonia.
Habitat: The Rufous Whistler is found in forests, woodlands and shrublands, with a shrubby understorey. Is also found in gardens and farmland with some trees, and in remnant bushland patches.
Seasonal movements: Sedentary, with some seasonal migratory movements in eastern Australia; south during spring and north in autumn.
Feeding: The Rufous Whistler mainly eats insects, and sometimes seeds, fruit or leaves. It usually forages at higher levels than other whistlers, and rarely is seen on the ground.
Breeding: The Rufous Whistler breeds in monogamous pairs, and both sexes incubate the eggs and care for the young. The female builds a fragile, cup-shaped nest from twigs, grass, vines and other materials, bound and attached to a tree fork with spider web. Two broods may be produced in a season.
Calls: A long loud series of ringing notes.
Minimum Size: 16cm
Maximum Size: 18cm
Average size: 17cm
Average weight: 25g
Breeding season: July to February
Clutch Size: Usually 2, sometimes 3
Incubation: 13 days
Nestling Period: 11 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)
© Chris Burns 2016
__________________________________________
All rights reserved.
This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.